Process of making ornamental picture-moldings



(lIo Model.)

GQEKSTRATTON. Processof Making Ornamental Pi'c'turd'Moldings.

Patented May 3,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. S TRATTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PROCESS OF MAKING ORNAMENTAL PICTURE-MOLDINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,864, dated -May 3, 1881.

Application filed October 26, 1880.

be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which format partof this specification.

My invention consists in the method or process, hereinafter set forth, for making ornamental molding, and in the product resulting from the process as an article of manufacture. 1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view, of a piece of molding before it is ornamented by my process. Fig. 3 is a plan, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view, of the same after it is ornamented by my process. Fig. 5 is a view of an obverse mold employed in the process.

It is the object of my invention to produce a cheap molding, yet possessing all the ornamental appearance of the expensive grades of ornamental moldings and equally durable. To this end I would first form, by planing or otherwise, the proper moldings in the rough from wood. I would then form, in plaster-ofparis or other matrix, an obverse mold, in which I impress suitable ornamentation. Such an obverse mold is shown at B in Fig. 5. I then lay upon the said mold,with the brilliant surface next to the mold, the leaf or foil, and with wash-leather or brush I press the leaf or foil into the cavities until it conforms perfectly E to the interstices of the ornamentalfigures. I

then saturate a piece of moderately-thick paper-as, for instance, blotting paper--with sizing or other substance, which will at once soften the paper and cause the leaf or foil to adhere firmly to it. This paperI lay in upon the foil, and in like manner,with wash-leather or the brush, Iforce the paper likewise snugly into all the ornamental cavities into contact with the foil or leaf. I then coat the back of the paper with glue, and then lay the wood molding in upon it, or else strip it from the mold and lay upon the molding and permit it to dry. It will then be found that a highlyornamental molding has been produced,which (No model.)

for perfection and durability is equal to any of the more expensive grades similarly ornamented, where the ornamental figures have been formed in plaster or whiting upon the molding itself and then gilded.

It is apparent that this process will leave hollow cavities beneath the projecting ornaments, which might render the finished product liable to injury by slight pressure; but I find that the glue stiffens it to such an extent that it is not open to that objection. If, however, in practice, it is foundto be advisable, I propose tolay upon the paper, so as to fill up all these cavities, a coating of plaster-of-paris, glue and whiting, or other substance, and then apply it to the wood, as before explained.

. It is apparent that the same mold will suffice for an indefinite period to produce the ornamental finish for any amount of the molding.

By this process, also, I am enabled to employ tin-foil, lead-foil, and other thick, cheap metallic sheets, in lieu of the more expensive gold-leaf or silver sheets. Heretofore it has been practically impossible to employ these thick foils in gilding ornamental molding, because the sharp outlines of the ornaments would be obliterated; but by this process, in which the foil is laid with its outside against the 0b verse mold and then pressed into intimate contact with it, all the sharp outlines are accu: rately reproduced, and the work is as perfect as though it had been formed originally in plaster upon the molding, and then laid with gold-leaf in the old way.

I would also have it understood that I do not confine myself to the process which begins by laying leaf or foil in upon the obverse mold,

for I may make the ornamental molding to be afterward gilded with leaf inthe usual way, by simply starting with the paper instead of the leaf or foil, and then proceeding as before, and in this way producing a cheap form of ornamental molding, which can be sold in the rough.

Ipropose, also, sometimes to employ the plaster or cement instead of paper, in which case the cement itself would be put in and pressed down directly upon the metallic foil or leaf.

The tin or lead foil, 850., may be coated with a varnish of shellac or other similar material, to give it the golden luster, and this may be applied either before or after it is shaped in the mold. I have found that where it is applied before, and is then used before the varnish has thoroughly hardened, it will conform to the mold without cracking or injuring the varnish.

Theplain portions, as well as the ornamental portions,maybe surfaced in the same manner, and I generally so employ the process.

What I claim is 1. The within-described process of making wooden molding with a surface of gilt ornaments, consisting of first laying the metallic leaf or foil upon a mold having the ornamental surface in obverse form ,workin g the leaf or foil thoroughly into the cavities of the mold, then laying thereon a backing of paper moistened with sizing or other cement, and pressing it into intimate contact with the leaf or foil, then filling the cavities at the back withany suitable material, and gluing or cementing the ornamental surface thus formed to the corresponding surface of the wood molding, substantially as described.

2. The process of providing wood molding with a surface of gilt ornaments, consisting of first laying metallic leaf or foil upon the mold having the ornaments in obverse form and working it well into the cavities of the mold, then laying thereon a surface of paper moistened with sizing or other substance which will cause the leaf or foil to adhere to it, and working that down into intimate contact with the leaf or foil, then gluing or cementing the ornamental surface thus formed directly to the wood scribed.

molding without filling up the cavities at the back of the paper, substantially as described.

3. As an article of manufacture, a wood molding provided with a surface of ornaments formed of paper shaped by a suitable mold, and glued or otherwise cemented to the wood molding, substantially as described.

4. As an article of manufacture, a wood molding provided with a surface of gilt ornaments formed of metallic leaf or foil with a backing of paper, said ornaments shaped by pressing into a suitable mold, and then glued or cemented to the wood molding, substantially as described.

5. A cheap wood molding with gilt ornaments, formed by first taking tin or lead foil, working it thoroughly into the cavities of an obverse mold, then backing it with a surface of thick moist paper, likewise worked into intimate contact with the foil, then gluing the paper directly to the corresponding part of the plain wooden molding, substantially as de- 6. Gilt molding formed by first placing leaf or foil upon an obverse mold, and working it thoroughly into the cavities of the mold, then applying thereto a backing of cement, and applying the latter directly to the wooden molding, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE FREDERICK STRATTON.

Witnesses:

WM. M. PORTER, SAMUEL EVANS THOMAS. 

